Newcastle United star Harrison Ashby must deeply regret his West Ham snub as Eddie Howe closes in on a major £15m upgrade.
West Ham fans were left reeling by the departure of another hugely promising young talent when Harrison Ashby joined Newcastle United on deadline day in January.
The move had been one of football’s worst kept secrets for some time with Scotland youth international Ashby being consistently linked with a move to mega-rich Newcastle since last summer.
The swashbuckling right-back impressed with his pace and crossing ability when given chances in the Hammers first team by David Moyes.
Those chances were too few and far between for the 21-year-old’s liking, though, and he made it clear he would not be signing a new deal with West Ham in the summer.
With his deal set to expire this summer and the player refusing to sign a new contract, West Ham looked to salvage something from the time and effort the club put into Ashby’s development by getting around £3m from Newcastle for the defender (BBC Sport).
The Ashby move to Newcastle divided West Ham fans.
Many blamed Moyes for not giving him more game time in a bid to convince him to stay, particularly as right-back had been a real problem position for West Ham.
Others believe Ashby will fail to cut it at Premier League level like so many academy starlets before him.
Moyes has made it clear since Ashby’s departure to St James’ Park that he wanted to keep the player, saying ‘it was the boy’s decision’.
Ashby did post an emotional farewell message to West Ham thanking the club after signing for the Magpies.
But Newcastle star Ashby must deeply regret his West Ham snub as Eddie Howe closes in on a major £15m upgrade.
According to The Telegraph’s John Percy and Luke Edwards, Newcastle are in advanced talks to sign brilliant Southampton and England right-back Tino Livramento for £15m.
The 20-year-old ex Chelsea academy product is one of the most highly rated young stars in the country. Reports even claim Howe believes Livramento could displace Kieran Trippier at right-back for the Geordies.
So that will push Ashby even further down the pecking order. The move suggests Howe has not been suitably impressed by the man he signed from West Ham, who turns 22 later this year. Why else would he be going out and spending £15m on an even younger right-back?
With reports abound that West Ham are looking to offload Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal not getting any younger, Ashby could have found himself very much part of West Ham’s first team squad next season.
Instead he is now risking fading into obscurity with Livramento highly-rated at England level too, particularly by manager Gareth Southgate.
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